Electric meter.



Patented Nov. 28,1899. E. s. HALSEY.

ELECTRIC METER.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. HALSEY, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS;

ELECTRIC METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 638,01 1, datedNovember 28, 1899.

Application filed March 2'7, 1899. Serial No. 711L627. (N0 model.)

To aZZ w/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. HALSEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Evanston, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Electric Meter, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to maximum-recording meters; and the objects of myinvention are, first, to utilize the common integrating supply-metersthat are now in use and make them perform a second function, they beingat present connected in series with a separate maximum-meter (or two ofthem, if on a threewire circuit) where the maximum-meters have beenadapted fora discount system; second, to make a more accurate andreliable maximum-meter that is more easily tested and cared for,and,third,to provide a simple means of retarding the revolving of aspindle in its socket, as will be described more fully hereinafter andpointed out in the claims. I attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 will berecognized as a vertical view of the essential parts of a commonintegrating wattmeter, with the attachments necessary to carry out myinvention added thereto. Fig. 2 is a partial section thereof,

especially illustrating my attachments there-I to and the change made inthe shaft. Fig. 3 is a view as it appears looking down from the top,withthe field-coils and armature removed. 4: is a sectional plan Viewthrough the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The several parts of a Thompson wattmetor-are indicated as follows: 9and 9, series coils; l, armature; 12, armature-shaft; 2, copperretarding-disk 10,bottom bearing; 8,dragmagnet; 15, a recordingmechanism, (shown in fraction,) being of the ordinary gear-wheel type,carrying a pointer surrounded by figures in circular arrangement in theordinary way and being driven by the worm-gear at the top end of thearmature-shaft. The several parts added thereto in carrying out myinvention are as follows: a second shaftpoint 13, (shown in Fig. 2,)formed by cutting the shaft and dressing one end to a point and theother end flat, so that they may work against each other; the flexiblecoupling 3, being a sleeve-socket embracing the shaft, having theircontact dressed with a viscous material and joined to a spiral spring 7,which may be known as a part of the flexible coupling 3; thegravity-pawl 4,carried at the end of an arm secured to the top of saidsleeve; the cap-shaped ratchet-wheel 11, having teeth on the lower sideor brim and being secured to the upper section of the shaft byaset-screw and having riveted to it an indicator 6 and having secured tothe inside of its flange the outer end of spring 7. The kilowatt-scale 5is cut or marked on the rim of the rotating drag-disk 2.

Having briefly described the drawings, I will now describe my inventionin full.

Taking an integrating meter of any motor type, preferably one retardedby a metallic disk, acted upon by drag-magnets, I first cut the shaft intwo between the armature and the dragging mechanism, dressing one of thecut ends down to a point 13, and the other is made a cup-bearing or ispolished flat. A metallic sleeve is then fixed rigid to the lowerportion of 12, as is seen in Fig. 2. The ratchet wheel 11 is thensecured to the upper portion of the shaft by a set-screw. Now the sleevewhich is fixed to the drag portion is coupled, through the medium of thespring 7, to the ratchet-wheel which is fixed to the upper or motorportion. A11 arm fixed to the upper end of said sleeve carries a pawl 4or a suitable clutch which is adjusted to allow the free advance of theupper parts carrying the index-finger 6, but will not allow a relax.The'upper part is perfectly loose in the sleeve, the scale correspondsto the capacity of the meter, and the spring is adjusted so that whenthe pointer reaches the top of the scale the indication is the full loadof the meter. It is evident that the indication will always be equal tothe greatest load that may have passed since the last resetting, whichis accomplished by disengaging the pawl and reestablishing the zero. Itis obvious also that the torque of the armature is opposed entirely bythe lower portion or disk, consequently the torque and drag being alwaysand under all conditions equal,and, f urther,that the springs torsion(it being the medium through which they are connected) is always equalto the torque of the armature. The pointer or indicator is of thinelastic metal, so that it can be sprung down to the disk to takeaccurate readings. It is also obvious that my invention is applicable toeither ampere or watt meters of the motor class.

It is quite important that a maximum-meter should indicate slowly, so asnot to be seriously affected by accidental overloads or short-circuits.I overcome this trouble by charging the socket formed by the sleeve inwhich the shaft moves with viscous material of resinous or tarry matterof such a consistency as to make the motion of the indicator Verysluggish, and yet so thick that it will not run out to an objectionableextent when the meter is left in an inverted position. This part of myinvention is applicable to other devices, such as the spindle-points ofalternating indicating wattmeters and other instruments that cannotreadily be made deadbeat and are the cause of no end of annoyance fromunsteady indications and bent hands from striking at the ends of thescale. It may also prove of value in the escapement of some mechanisms,such as arc-lamps.

I am aware that a spring has been attached to a meter-shaft forintermittent use; but I am not aware that any device similar to myinvention has previously been used.

What I claim is' 1. In acombined maximum and integrating electric metera rotating motor; a counting mechanism; a maximum-indicator being apointer and scale; a suitable device for preserving the maximumindication; the armature or rotating part of said motor being revolvedin a given direction by, and at a velocity in proportion 'to, themeasured current, simultaneously operating said counting mechanism and,by its force, raising the indication on said maximum-scale to themaximum amount passed through the meter.

2. In a maximum-recording electric meter, a motor rotated in a givendirection by the measured current; a breaking or drag mechanism for saidmotor being a closed conductor cutting the lines of forcevof a magneticfield; an indicator being a suitable pointer and scale to show themaximum effect of the current passed through the meter; a device topreserve the maximum indication of said indicator; the force of saidmotor pulling against the drag between the said closed conductor andsaid magnetic field, forcing a relative movement orindication on saidscale, thereby establishing a maximum indication.

3. In a maximum-recording electric meter in combination; a pointer andscale pivoted in movable relation to one another to indicate themaximum; a device forcing an indication by the power of the currentbeing measured; a device for preserving the said maximum indication; apart or surface revolving opposite another surface or part and draggingthrough the medium of an interposed viscous material upon said oppositesurface or part; one of said parts or surfaces being fixed with the saidpointer and the other of said parts or surfaces being fixed in itsrelation with said scale, thereby making any movement of indication slowor sluggish, substantially as shown and specified.

4. In a maximum electric recorder a rotat= ing armature 1; a rotatingdrag part 2; a suitable indicator set rotating with said parts, oneportion of said indicator set lagging in its circuit behind another partthereof, in correspondence to the load, thus establishing a maximumindication.

5. A maximum electric current or energy indicator, consisting of arotating motive part 1; a lagging part 2; an elastic coupling connectingthe two said parts; an indicator 6 carried by one of said parts; and anindex carried by the other said part, whereby the maximum current thatmay pass can be determined.

6. In a combined maximu m and integrating electric meter, a motor part1; a drag part 2; an elastic coupling 3; a mechanical clutch or detent 4and an indicator 6.

7. In combination with an integrating elec-- tric meter anarmature-shaft being of two separate parts of sections; asleeve-coupling 3 joining together the two said parts of shaft, andfixed to one of them; a dressing of viscous material on the interior ofsaid sleeve; a spring 7 forming part of the coupling; an index 5; anindicator 6; and a detent or clutch 4, all for the purposes specified.

8. In an electric meter a revolvingarma ture 1; a revolving drag part;and a flexible coupling joining the two said parts together.

9. In an electric meter a revolving armature-shaft having a flexiblejoint and bearing intermediate between the end bearings, as shown andspecified.

10. In a maximum electric meter an arma ture-shaft being of two severedparts, combined with an elastic coupling and a suitable detentpreventing one part of said shaft from returning in its relation to theother part thereof as specified.

11. In a maximum electric meter the following combination, asleeve-socket, a stem or spindle movable in said socket; a viscousmaterial in said sleeve, and in contact with said stem retarding anymotion between them.

12. In a mechanical escapement; a receptacle-socket; a spindle loose insaid socket; viscous material in said socket in contact with saidspindle, acting as a retarding agent to a rotative movement in saidapparatus.

13. In an electric measuring instrument a socket-bearin g; ashaft-spindle rotated in said socket a dense viscous material in saidsocket in contact with said spindle so as to retard the movement thereofas described.

14. In a maximum recording instrument a shaft-bearing formed by a sleeveor socket; a dense viscous dressing in said bearing for the purpose ofpreventing any but sluggish motion thereof.

15. In a maximum-recording meter an index 5, and indicator 6, a suitabledetent, retaining the said parts at a maximum relation to one another; arotating armature 1; a dragmagnet 8 a rotating metallic disk 2 draggingthrough eddycurrents generated therein upon said magnets field, allcombined with a suitable retarding device to cause a sluggishindication.

16. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an index 5; aradial indicator 6; a rotating armature l; a drag-magnet 8; a drag-disk2 acting through its Foucault currents upon said magnet; and a retardingdevice, suitable to permit only a sluggish indication of said indicator.

17. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an armature 1;an indicator 6; a ratchet-wheel 11; a pawl4; aspring 7; a drag-magnet 8;a drag-disk 2 acting through its Foucault currents upon said magnet; andviscous material as a retarding agent for said indicator.

18. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an armature 1;an indicator 6; a spring 7; a drag-magnet 8, a dragdisk 2,draggingthrough its Foucault currents upon said magnet; and viscous material asa retarding agent for said indicator.

19. In a maximum-recording meter an armature l; a vertical shaft 12; acap-shaped ratchet-Wheel 11, on said shaft; a pawl engaging the verticalteeth on the flange of said wheel, a spring-coupling 7, an'indicator 6and a drag part 2.

20. In a maximum-recording electric meter, a motor rotated in a givendirection by the measured current; a breaking or drag mechanism for saidmotor being a closed conductor cutting the lines of force of a magneticfield; an indicator being a suitable pointer and scale to show themaximum effect of the current passed through the meter; a device topreserve the maximum indication of said indicator, a suitable retardingdevice to permit only a sluggish movement of indication; the force ofsaid motor pulling against the drag between the said closed conductorand said magnetic field forcing a relative movement or indication onsaid scale thereby establishing a maximum indication.

21. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an index 5; aradial indicator 6; a spring 7 a rotating armature 1; a detent I; adrag-magnet 8; a drag part 2; acting through its Foucault currents uponsaid magnet thereby producing a maximum indication on said index.

In testimony that I claim the above I here unto set my hand.

EDWARD S. HALSEY.

In presence of ALBERT G. TURNBULL, GEORGE E. MEEKER.

